Child&#39;s construction game



July 16, 1968 A. STUBBMANN CHILDS CONSTRUCTION GAME Filed June 10, 1965F/GI/ INVENTOR AZBERT STl/BBMANN BY I (144; mm

' ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,392,480 CHILDS CONSTRUCTION GAMEAlbert Stubbmann, Flushing, N.Y., assignor t0 Koliner lxi ros Inc., NewYork, N.Y., a corporation of New ork Filed June 10, 1965, Ser. No.462,855 1 Claim. (CI. 46-25) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A childsconstruction game composed of several figurines, each having arms andlegs that terminate in snap coupling members. The figurines are ofelastomeric plastic and the coupling members are -U-shaped. Eachcoupling member has the arms of the U terminate in cylindrical terminalsThe terminals and coupling members are so shaped that when the couplingmembers of different figurines are interengaged the terminal of eachcoupling member is received in the groove of the other coupling memberWhere it is frictionally nested to form an array of figurines. Thecoupling members are separated by snapping them apart. The game alsoincludes straight and curved rods which can be received in the groovesof the coupling members.

This invention relates to a childs construction game, and, morespecifically, to a construction game figure adapted to be detachablyinterengaged with other like figures of the same game or with play'thingaccouterments of the game.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a constructiongame with a figure of the character described which may be quickly andeasily repeatedly interlocked with and detached from other figures ofthe same game, or with and from accouterments of said game, by a childof tender years, so that such a child can spend many hours of happy playwith the figures.

It is another object of my invention to provide a childs constructiongame with a figure which is one of a set of similar figures constructedso that the limbs of each figure can be detachably joined to the limbsof one or more other figures in a variety of interesting and amusingpositional relationships.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a game composed of aset of childs construction figures, the limbs of which can be meshedwith the limbs of other figures so that one figure can act as a base,another figure can be erected upon and above the base figure, andadditional figures can be erected upon the first two figures whereby thechild can construct an assemblage of figures which simulates the stanceof acrobats during a performance in a circus.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide a childs gamecomposed of figures which can be joined not only to other figures butalso to poles, hoops and the like, all of which are accouterments of thegame.

It is another object of my invention to provide a childs game composedof construction figures of the character described, each having fourlimbs, the extremities of which terminate in a new and unique couplingwhich can be quickly fixed to and subsequently separated from a likecoupling on the extremity of the limb of another figure or which canfrictionally grasp and subsequently be disengaged from a portion of anaccouterment of the game.

Itis yet another object of my invention to provide a childs constructiongame made up of figures and accouterments of the type described, whichcan be manufactured by mass production techniques and thus marketed at arelatively low cost, which are strong and dura- 3,392,486 Patented July16, 1968 ble in play, which are formed into the shape of amusingcharacters, and which will delight and entice young children for manyperiods of play.

In general, and in accordance with the teaching of my invention, Iprovide a childs construction game composed in part of a set of likeelastomeric synthetic plastic miniature figures. The figures desirablyare brightly and variously colored and, as shown, portray in an amusingmanner Stone Age men and animals. Also included in the construction gameare numerous accouterments such as a platform and various hoops andpoles.

Each toy figure has four unitary limbs and the extremity of each limb isunitarily formed into one member of a snap-action coupling. Byappropriate easily learned manipulation, a child can interconnect thelimbs of two or more figures. For example, he may engage the arm of onefigure to the arm of a second figure and can engage the other arm of thefirst figure to the foot of a third figure. The various coupling memberson the figures may be differently oriented so that the figures may beinterconnected one atop the other or one alongside the other.

Still further adding to the variety and interest of my childsconstruction game, the coupling member which constitutes the unitaryextremity of each limb of each four-limbed figure can also :be locked toan appropriate portion of an accouterment of the game which portion isof uniform circular cross-section. In this manner, one figure can beattached to a large circular hoop and another figure can be fixed to theother side of this circular hoop. As for another example, one figure mayengage an elongated pole of uniform circular cross-section to which poleother figures can be similarly afiixed.

It will be evident from the foregoing that I have provided a childsconstruction game including a set of figu-res and various accouterments,which game is, when the pieces are interengaged, simul-ative of a troupeof circus acrobats and which figures may be arranged by a child so thatthey hold one another by foot-to-foot or hand-to-foot grips, some ofwhich figures grasp hoops or poles and others of which hang from suchhoops and poles.

To enable my construction game figures to be properly erected in astable arrangement, I further provide a platform having as a componentthereof a horizontal bar.

To this bar a base figure can be first attached and thereby held erect,and thereafter other figures and accouterments may be built upon thisbase figure extending horizontally, vertically and even diagonally inany manner desired. The coupling between any two figures or between afigure and a circular cross-section portion of an accouterment may, ofcourse, be quickly detached. Thus, a child can build, pull apart andrebuild an erect array of figures and accouterments as often as desiredand in a great variety of fashions.

The coupling members which enables the figures and accouterments to bequickly attached and detached in the manner described is of U-shapedconfiguration and in one piece with a limb as the extremity thereof.Said coupling member includes two coupling arms, each ending in anelongated and enlarged terminal of uniform circular cross-section. Theterminals are parallel, of like cross-sectional configuration, andlaterally spaced from and registered with one another. The two arms ofthe coupling member including the terminals thereof define betwen theman elongated cylindrical open-ended groove with a restricted throat. Thegroove is parallel to the terminals and is of a diameter slightly lessthan the diameter 'of the terminals. The terminals of the couplingmembers each have a greater thickness than each arm of the couplingmember.

When it is desired to interengage the extremities of any two limbs, theextremities are pressed together so that one terminal of each couplingmember is received in the groove of the other coupling member. The armsof each coupling member are sufficiently bendable due to their limitedthickness so that they can be forced apart to permit a terminal of theother coupling member to pass through the restricted throat of thegroove and into the cavity of the groove. With one terminal of each oftwo interengaged coupling members nested in the groove of the othercoupling member and squeezed between the arms of said other couplingmember, a firm though readily separable connection is formed.

A portion of any accouterment, which portion is of uniform circularcross-section, can also be interengaged with any coupling member in asimilar manner. That is, said portion is forced through the restrictedthroat of the groove, this passage being permited by the bendability(yieldability) of the arms of the coupling member. When the portion hasbeen received in the cavity of the groove, the arms swing against it byvirtue of their tendency to resume their as-molded configuration, andsince the diameter of the portion is slightly in excess of the diameterof the groove, the portion remains frictionally grasped by the couplingmember.

The foregoing and various other objects and advantages of my inventionwill become apparent to the reader in the following description.

My invention consists in the features of construction, combinations ofelements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in theconstruction figures and plaything accouterments hereinafter describedand of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown a game constituting oneof the various possible embodiments of my invention,

FIG. 1 is 'a front elevational view of several childs construction gamefigures and accouterments interengaged with one another and standingerect upon a platform, the array of FIG. 1 being exemplicative of thevariety of positions in which my game figures and accouterments can bearranged;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of two coupling members inpositional relationship ready to be interengaged;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of two interconnected couplingmembers, the same being taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the interengagement of acoupling member and 'a portion of an accouterment of circularcross-section, the same being taken substantially along the line 44 ofFIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral denotesan array of interlocked balancing figures 12 and accouterments 14. Thefigures 12 are part of a group including several like figures, and theaccouterments are a part of a group including several likeaccouterments, the groups together constituting a childs constructiongame which embodies the teaching of my invention.

The figures 12 and accouterments 14 are formed, as by molding, from anyconventional durable elastomeric synthetic plastic, polyethylene beingwell-suited for this purpose. The figures 12 are each miniaturerepresentations of animated cartoon characters, figure 12a beingrepresentative of a Stone Age man, the figure 12b being representativeof a Stone Age child, the figure 12c being representative of a differentStone Age man, the figure 12d being representative of a Stone Agedinosaur, and the figure 12e being representative of another type ofStone Age animal. The accouterment 14a is in the form of an elongatedpole of substantially uniform circular cross-section, the deviation fromuniformity constituting a roughening of the surface, and theaccouterment 14b is in the form of a large hoop, also of substantiallyuni form circular cross-section. The accouterment is in the form of ashallow platform on which a figure 12 can be erected and which therebyserves as a stabilizing base for the array 10 of interlocked figures.

Each of the figures 12, although representative of a different Stone Agecharacter, is alike in that it includes a head 16, a body 18 and fourlimbs 19, including two arms 20 and two legs 22, which are in one-piecewith the body. The limbs of each figure are spread out, the arms beingeither horizontally outstretched as in figures 12d and 12a, orvertically outstretched above the head as in figures 12a, 12b and 12c,as are the legs of the figures. Each figure is generally symmetricalabout a vertical center line passing through its body so that the armand leg on one side of the body of a figure are mirror images of the armand leg on the other side of its body. When the arms are verticallystretched above a head they are transversely registered; the same istrue of the legs.

The extremity of each limb of each figure constitutes a coupling member24 in one-piece therewith, which member takes the place of and, for thepurpose of the present game, has the same function as a hand or a footof the figure. Each coupling member of the entire set of figures isexactly alike so that only one coupling member need be described indetail.

Each coupling member 24 is of U-shaped configuration and has a constantwidth, dimension W in FIG. 2, greater than the greatest transversedimension of the limb 19 with which it is associated. The limb 19 isunitarily joined to the coupling member at a location slightly offsetfrom the center of the bight of the member. (See FIGS. 3 and 4.)

Each coupling member includes two like coupling arms 26, 28 which are ofthe same thickness, dimension T in FIG. 2, and which merge smoothly intoone another at the bight of the member. The coupling arms togetherfollow a semicircular path and the limb 19 is united to the couplingmember 24 next to the juncture of the proximate ends of the two couplingarms. Each coupling arm 26, 28 has at its end distant from the point atwhich it meets the limb 19, an enlarged terminal, the coupling arm 26ending in the terminal 30 and the coupling arm 28 ending in the terminal32. By the term enlarged, it is meant that the thickness of eachterminal is greater than the thickness of each of the arms. However, thewidth of each terminal is the same as the width of each arm. Theterminals are alike and each is centered on its respective arm in aposition so that a like portion of the terminal extends on either sideof (overhangs) said arm. Each terminal is somewhat elongated, of uniformcircular cross-section along its length, and the long axes of saidterminals are parallel. The terminals 30, 32 are laterally spaced fromand registered with one another.

The coupling arms 26, 28 define therebetween the cavity of an open-endedelongated constant diameter cylindical groove 34. The groove is parallelto the terminals 30, 32. The terminals define therebetween a restrictedthroat 36 for said groove. That is, the distance between the facingsides of the terminals 30, 32 is less than e.g., about three quartersof, the diameter of the groove 34. The distance between the facing sidesof the terminals is consequently less than the diameter of theterminals. Further, the diameter of the groove 34 is slightly less thanthe diameter of a terminal 30 or 32.

When a child desires to interlock the extremities of two limbs, twocoupling members are forced together. As the two coupling members 24 areapproached, see FIGS. 2 and 3, one terminal of each member is orientedso that it attempts to pass between the terminals, i.e. through therestricted throat 36 of the other coupling member. Since the opening ofthe throat 36 of the groove 34 is smaller than the diameter of anyterminal, under mild pressure, the pressure exerted by the hand of achild being suflicient for this purpose, the terminal causes the arms tobend away from one another and to permit the terminal to pass throughthe throat and into the groove between the arms. The arms are of alimited thickness and the plastic is sufficiently flexible so that theymay open from one another without rupture. In the interengagement of twocoupling members, each groove receives one terminal of the othercoupling member, so that, in toto, the two terminals are nested, eachbetween the arms and terminals of the other coupling member. Since thediameter of a terminal is slightly greater than the diameter of thegroove, the arms do not return to their initial repose condition, butrather remain biased towards one another and squeeze a terminal of theother coupling member between them.

During their interengagement, the coupling members are brought togetherby what may be described as a snapaction. That is one terminal of eachcoupling member begins to enter the throat of the other coupling member,a definite amount of hand-engendered force pushing the members towardsone another is needed to spread the arms apart to permit entry of saidterminal. When, however, the terminals have passed slightly beyond thenarrowest dimension of the passage and begin to seat in their respectivegrooves, the coupling members quickly and easily move to their finalposition, or, so to speak, snap into place. This rapid final movement isdue to the biasing force of the arms urging the terminals into theirrespective grooves.

To disengage one limb extremity from another, the coupling members aresimply pulled apart whereby each terminal again passes through therestricted throat of the other coupling member, and, in so doing, bendsthe coupling arms of the other coupling member apart to permit thismovement.

The coupling members also may be engaged and disengaged by relativelongitudinal movement of the termina s.

Each figure 12 of my construction game has two of its coupling members24 laterally spaced with the grooves 34 in these coupling members,coaxial and aligned. These coupling members are preferably on twoassociated limbs. For example, the dinosaur figure 12d has the couplingmembers 24 on its legs 22 spaced and in alignment. Some figures have thegrooves of the coupling members of both sets of limbs in alignment. Forexample, in the Stone Age man 12a, the grooves of the coupling membersof the arms are aligned and the grooves of the coupling members of thelegs are also aligned. This arrangement is conducive to verticalstacking, as seen from the positional relationship of the Stone Agechild 12b and the Stone Age man 12a. Other figures have the grooves ofone set of coupling members in alignment and the grooves of the otherset of coupling members not aligned. By way of example, the couplingmembers of the arms of the Stone Age dinosaur 12d are not aligned butrather parallel and vertically oriented, the same being conducive tohorizontal interlocking of figures. The positional relationship betweenfigures 12c and 12d is illustrative thereof.

With a like coupling on each limb of each figure, the figures may beinterlocked in a great variety of positional relationships, i.e.horizontal, vertical and diagonal. Accordingly, a child will be amusedfor many hours by forming from the figures an array which simulates anacrobatic pyramid stance as seen during the performance of acrobats at acircus. For example, and as as illustrated in FIG. 1, the couplingmembers on the arms of the Stone Age man, figure 12a, are eachinterengaged with an associated coupling member on the arms of the StoneAge child, figure 12b. These figures are in vertical hand-to-handrelationship. To this end, the coupling members which are aligned arespaced a like distance apart.

As further seen in FIG. 1, the coupling member on the 6 right leg of theStone Age child 12b is interlocked with the coupling member on the rightleg of the dinosaur 12d. These figures are in diagonal foot-to-footrelationship.

To further add to the interest of my childs construction game, each ofthe accouterments 14 is constructed so that it can be gripped by acoupling member 24 of a figure 12. Each accouterment has at least aportion thereof of uniform circular cross-section, the diameter of thisportion being slightly larger than the diameter of the groove 34 in eachcoupling member. To engage said portion of an accouterment to a couplingmember, said portion is simply forced through a restricted throat 36 ofthe coupling member, bending the coupling arms 26, 28 apart, and thenmoving into the groove 34. Since as has been said, the diameter of theportion of the accouterment is slightly in excess of the diameter of thegroove, the coupling arms do not return to their initial as-moldedposition but remain biased towards one another and squeeze the saidportion of the accouterment between them. The facing overhang of eachterminal keeps said portion of the accouterment firmly seated in thegroove of the coupling member.

As illustrative of the use of a plaything accouterment in connectionwith my construction game figures 12, the Stone Age man 12c shown inFIG. 1 grasping the pole 14a, and to this end, the coupling members 24on the arms 20 of said man grip the pole at spaced locations. Further,the coupling member 24 on the left arm 20 of the dinosaur figure 12dgrips a hoop 1417, an opposed portion of which is grasped by thecoupling member on the right arm 20 of the dinosaur figure 122.

As a suitable base and support for the arrangement of interlockedfigures and accouterments, there is provided the platform which has theconfiguration of a shallow topped truncated cone. Located in the planeof the top surface of the platform is a horizontal elongated bar 38having a width slightly in excess of the diameter of the groove 34 ofthe coupling member. Slots 40 flank the bar to permit the terminals andarms of coupling members to straddle the bar. The bar 38 is grasped byany two aligned coupling members. A flange 42 depends from the bar 38 toprevent rotation of the members thereon. As illustrated in FIG. 1, thebar 38 can be gripped by the aligned coupling members on the legs 22 ofthe Stone Age man 12a.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that children of tender yearswill spend many hours of delightful play in assembling, disassembling,and reassembling the fingers and accouterments of my construction gamein an endless variety of acrobatic stances. The coupling member 24 whichis an essential part of each figure can be readily interlocked with anyother coupling member or with a portion of an accouterment of my game.When so interlocked, the coupling member grips its partner firmly sothat the array of figures are supported one atop another in pyramid formwithout fear of toppling.

It thus will be seen that I have provided a construction game havingfigures and accouterments which achieve the several objects of myinvention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practicaluse.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it isto be understod that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and useful and desireto secure by Letters Patent:

1. A childs construction game constituting an array composed of at leasttwo interengaged elements, each element being formed of elastomericsynthetic plastic, each element having an extremity which supports asnap-action coupling member of U-shaped configuration, each saidcoupling member consisting of two arms and two elongated parallellaterally spaced and registered like terminals of identicalcross-section uniform along the length thereof, each terminal of eachcoupling member being fixed to the end of a difierent arm of thatmember, said arms and terminals of each coupling member definingtherebetween an elongated generally cylindrical openended groove with arestricted throat, the gnoove of each coupling member being parallel tothe terminals of that member and being of a diameter slightly less thanthe diameter of each of said terminals, the terminals of each couplingmember defining the restricted throat of that coupling member, the armsof the coupling member of each element being of a relatively limitedthickness so that the arms are locally bendable away from one another soas to permit passage of a terminal of the coupling member of the otherelement into or out of the groove through the restricted throat thereofunder pressure, the thickness of the terminals of the members beinggreater than the thickness of the arms of the coupling members so thatthe arms are not locally bendable at the terminals, a terminal of thecoupling member of each of the elements being frictionally nested in andengaging the groove of the other member, the arms of each couplingmember being biased together around the terminal of the other couplingmember engaged thereby, whereby said interengaged coupling members areadapted to be disengaged by snapping out the frictionally nestedterminal of each coupling member from the groove of the other couplingmember.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,078,709 4/ 1937 Hecht 4625 XR2,353,858 7/1944 Tedesco 24201 2,767,517 10/1956 Hooper 46--22 2,902,8219/1959 Kelly 4630 XR 2,959,888 11/1960 Noble 4622 XR 2,789,609 4/ 1957Post.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,156,688 10/ 1963 Germany.

669,495 4/1952 Great Britain.

161,046 10/1957 Sweden.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

S. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

